Davids plummets into the Conference, but these other legends also played for minnows... remember Gazza at Boston, Socrates at Garforth and Best at Dunstable?

Edgar Davids has played in the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Eredivisie, in a World Cup and two European Championships, and he's played in, and won, a Champions League final. Last night, he added 'Football Conference' to that illustrious list when he turned out for Barnet.

But the eccentric midfielder – who has played for Ajax, Milan, Juventus, Barcelona, Spurs and Inter – is not the only brilliant player to pull on the shirt of a much smaller club towards the end of their career...

Ed case: Davids has added an appearance in the Conference to his largely star-studded resume

Socrates at Garforth Town (2004)

The footballing genius, who captained Brazil in two World Cups, bizarrely joined non-League Garforth Town. The tiny mining town in West Yorkshire has little more than 20,000 residents. On the day he arrived from Sao Paulo, Socrates made his debut in the Northern Counties East League against Tadcaster Albion. He was there for a month.

Legend: Socrates shows Scotland's John Wark his skills at the 1982 World Cup in Spain

Spot the difference: Socrates in action for Garforth against Tadcaster in November 2004 (left) and in his heyday

Cafu at Garforth Town (2008)

Not content with luring Socrates, Garforth manager Simon Clifford persuaded World Cup winner Cafu to join the club on a short-term deal four years later. Only the season before he was playing for AC Milan. It transpired that Clifford ran the Brazilian Soccer Schools coaching organisation and had built up strong contacts in Brazil.

Finest hour: Cafu holds aloft the World Cup after Brazil beat Germany in Yokohama in 2002

Paul Gascoigne at Boston (2004)

In his last action on a football field, Gascoigne joined League Two Boston as a player-coach, but left after a three-month spell. He made only two starts and five appearances in total. He went on to manage Kettering but left his role after being accused by chairman Imraan Ladak of being under the influence of alcohol while working.

Ball game: Paul Gascoigne has a laugh at the expense of Fulham's Alain Goma in September 2004

English hero: Gazza leaves Colin Hendry for dead to score against Scotland during Euro 96

Waddle refuses to give up playing and has been happy to journey down the leagues as his age has got the better of him. He played two seasons at non-League Worksop in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League and had brief spells at two other clubs in the league. The 52-year-old made over 100 appearances for Newcastle, Tottenham and Marseille, but is now, 30 years later, still playing for amateur side Hallam in Sheffield.

Still got it: Chris Waddle weaves his way through the Leek midfield while playing for Worksop

At 38, seven years after retiring from top-flight football, Greaves moved to Barnet in the Southern League. The former England striker was moved into the role of a more cultured midfielder – and it worked. He scored 25 goals and was voted their player of the season.

Fan-tash-tic: Jimmy Greaves was converted from striker to midfielder for his spell at Barnet

Lethal finisher: Greaves (left) scores for Tottenham against Coventry City in 1968

George Best at Dunstable Town (1974)

One of the most gifted players ever to kick a football left Manchester United aged 27. Where to next? Southern League side Dunstable. The club had ambitious plans and were backed by chairman Keith Cheeseman and managed by Barry Fry. It cost them. Best made only three appearances and the club ceased to exist due to their heavy spending.

Fallen giant: A clearly overweight Best turns out for Dunstable in 1974 The Southern League club's average gate of 400 rocketed to nearly 4000 for the day

He travelled to three World Cups and won one of them. He had a glittering 17-year career at Manchester United making more than 600 league appearances. Not only that, at the age of 39, he scored once in three appearance for Irish side Waterford United. It was his last action on the pitch.

Good luck saving that: Bobby Charlton unleashes one of his famous cannonball shots

Sir Trevor Brooking at Cork (1985)

Brooking is often regarded as a one-club player following 17 years and 647 games at West Ham. He scored the greatest goal in the club's history when he won them the 1980 FA Cup final with a diving header against Arsenal. Yet years after hanging up his boots he pulled them on for two games at Irish side Cork City. The midfielder said: 'It was just to do a favour for a mate.'

Star attraction: Brooking signs autographs for fans during his stint in Ireland with Cork

Tommy Lawton at Notts County (1947)

Lawton was one of the best centre forwards in the world and shocked the country when he moved from Chelsea to Third Division Notts County for a British record £20,000 transfer fee. At the time there were rumours he would receive half the gate receipts, was given backhanders and that turnstiles would be named after him. In truth, he moved for his friend Arthur Stollery, a former masseur at Chelsea and then manager of County. He became a legend there scoring 103 goals in 166 appearances over five years.

Rising high: Lawton (left) rockets a header towards the Northampton goal in the 1949-50 season

Matt Le Tissier at Guernsey (2013)

Ten years after his retirement the Southampton legend signed for hometown club Guernsey to help them play 17 league fixtures in a month in the Combined Counties League Premier Division. In April he played in a 4-2 defeat to Colliers Wood United, but it was his only performance.

Maverick: Matt Le Tissier shunned offers from many of the biggest clubs in England to stay at Southampton his entire career... until he came out of retirement to help Guernsey

Taking Le Tiss: The former England forward shows his famous first touch in action for Guernsey

Sol Campbell at Notts County (2009)

The defender was the first player in world football to be paid £100,000 week when he moved from Tottenham to rivals Arsenal. He shocked many when he chose to move from Portsmouth to Notts County, persuaded by then director of football Sven Goran Eriksson. His team-mates were even more shocked when, after 29 days and playing only once, he walked into the changing room and announced he was quitting.

Morcambe's James Bentley gets to grips with Sol Campbell during the League Two match at Christie Park

Stepping down: The former England centre back in 2009 (left) and in his Arsenal glory days (right)

Alan Simonsen at Charlton Athletic (1983)

He was a former European player of the year and had three successful years at Barcelona before the capture of Maradona forced him to leave with the club having too many foreign players. The Dane had the pick of Europe to move to. Where did he choose? Financially crippled Second Division club Charlton. He fast became a fan-favourite with nine goals in 16 games, but then, unsurprisingly, they could no longer afford his wages.

Great Dane: Alan Simonsen leaps on Klaus Bergreen after scoring the winner against England in 1983 (left) and in action after his stunning decision to join Charlton Athletic, who were in huge financial trouble (right)